Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Get on the Ball practice

This is our 3rd night of doing the beginner section of Get on the Ball 2
Stewie is catching on very quickly. He will do anything that earns him treats. He will get on the ball, lay down, sit up, stand up, bend from side to side, and wave. We did 10 minutes tonight. It is a great time to year to do this program, especially with the cold and wind today.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Watching Get on the Ball 2

Stewie and I got Get on the Ball 2 for Christmas. I am watching the 1st DVD tonight.

Get on the Ball 2 from Clean Run

Happy Birthday Stewie!

Stewie is 7 years old today!Here are a couple of pictures when he was a little guy. He was 5 pounds when we brought him home at 8 weeks old. At the time we had Tobie, a smooth collie, and Aurora, our Siamese cat who has always been very patient with him,and always let him know that she was the boss!
What a great time I have had with him! He is my best boy! Jack Russell Terriers are the best! Always ready for run and any activity at anytime and a lap dog extraordinaire in the evening.
 

 

 
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Stewie's new Safety vest

Stewie got a safety vest for Christmas!


 

 
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Vote for Stewie!

Please vote for Stewie in a holiday photo contest. You can vote once a day until Dec 26th.
Here is the link: http://johannthedog.com/gallery2/main.php

Scroll to the bottom of the page , and look for Stewie in his Santa outfit in front of the Christmas tree. Click all the stars on his picture to vote!

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

Nancy and Stewie

Can a Family Pet be a Great Agility Dog?

Interesting post from Susan Garrett, of course we already know the answer is Yes!

Can a Family Pet be a Great Agility Dog?

Monday, December 21, 2009

Bud Houston's thoughts concerning NADAC

Reintroduced to NADAC


Calera Oklahoma was friggin’ cold, and wet, and windy. I did six days of NADAC judging clinic… three mixed classroom/ practical and three practicing judging under NADAC rules for a Fun Raiser trial. I’ve learned heaps and have a lot of notes to sort through.

I’m happy to be home. I left early on Thanksgiving day and now it’s well into December. I especially regret that I didn’t get the haircut I needed about a week before I started the trip. Did I mention that Calera was windy?

Never have I maintained much of a bias for or against any agility venue. You know, it’s all rock ‘n roll to me. With that in mind I find NADAC to be pragmatic and forward-thinking and probably apart from any venue subscribing to the so-called “international standard” for the sport. I say “apart” and intend not to mince words here. This is not the same game as played in the USDAA, TDAA, or AKC. NADAC is founded on a thoughtful sensitivity for safety and fairness to the dog both in the design of courses and in the construction of equipment.

Course design is intuitive. And everything is about speed and flow. You know, the reason I even attended this clinic is because I’ve wanted from the beginning to make my boy Kory’s introduction to the sport of agility in NADAC. I want him to understand from the very beginning that agility is about working at full speed.

As to construction standards… if there is any one thing that has permanently switched in my brain is that contact obstacles should have a rubber surface; (yah, I reckon a NADAC person reading this would be wondering why I’ve been retarded on the point). To tell you the truth, Sharon Nelson did about a 15 minute demonstration on a full-height A-frame with a young pup who’d not been previously introduced to the obstacle. Here was a young dog wiggling around and moving with complete confidence and control on a surface that without the rubber would have had the dog scrabbling his toe-nails against a harder surface and feeling out of control. With the rubber surface the dog was completely nonplussed and in control.

In terms of distance training and handling and directional control of the dog NADAC players are far superior to players in any other venue in this country. I’m sorry, that sounds like quite a preposterous claim based as it is on a nearly insignificant statistical sampling. Given the amazing distance handling I saw this past weekend… I believe it right down to my bones.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

New Agility Venue coming to USA

Introducing UK Agility International! (UKI)

From the same Organization that has grown to great levels in the UK, we are now expanding to America.

Begin 2010 by starting with a fresh, new, competitor friendly organization,? for all dogs? ? UK Agility International!

Click on our web site to see what we are all about; how you and your dog can compete & how your club or group can run a UKI event.

Attached is a PDF file detailing the benefits of UKI for the competitor and trial manager.

www.ukagilityinternational.com

Best Wishes!

Greg and Laura Derrett

Looking for an exciting new venue that offers:

? 5 Jump Heights

? 2 separate programs

? Points system for progression

? Training rounds allowed ? with a toy!

? No up contacts judged!

? Nursery classes for debuting dogs

? Next day move ups

? Friendly equipment specs, 5?7? A-frame, no triple jump

? Free personal online account for record keeping

? Transfer to UKI at current competing level

? WE listen, yearly competitor surveys

? Online entries

? And?much more

Agility for all competitors, run by competitors!

Check out UKAgilityInternational.com for all the details!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Cute Pets!


Here is a picture of Aurora and Stewie out in the kitchen with my while I made dinner.
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Thursday, December 3, 2009

Stewie reviews the ComfortFlex Sport Harness by Clean Run



Stewie got the ComfortFlex Sport Harness from Clean Run, and he loves it! Stewie likes the fact that it goes on over his head, he doesn't have to pick up his feet and put them in, or be worried that the strap will pinch his tummy when it is buckled up. The ComfortFlex harness goes on in a snap, over the dog's head and then the velcro strap goes under his stomach and attached to the other side, and is also secured with a buckle snap.
It is Stewie, Jack Russell Terrier approved!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Get on the Ball DVD, any thoughts?

Hi,

I noticed there is a new DVD, Get on the Ball 2, and wondered if anyone can tell me if they have tried this, and how they like it, the dogs like it, and whether they have noticed improvement after using it.

thanks!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Backyard training today

After a good walk, we got just few minutes in the backyard before it got dark. I wanted to work on directionals. I set up a hoop with another hoop 8 paces directly in front of it. I also put a tunnel off to the left of the 1st hoop.
I sent Stewie to the hoop, told him "left" and he took the tunnel, good boy! I worked him off of both sides, and also sent him straight ahead with a "go on" several times as well. He only made a mistake a couple of times.

Tomorrow we work on "right", Stewie is not quite as consistent on rights.

Clean Run Search Now On Googility!

Clean Run Search Now On Googility!

Check this out, it is awesome. Now I can quickly find all the "Distance Challenge articles in a snap, instead of going thru each issue looking for them.
Thanks Steve!